1. Losing the Lake: Development and Deployment of an Educational Game Joseph M. Vesco, Katie Gilgen, Anne Paine, Marissa Owens, E. Michael Nussbaum, Gale M. Sinatra, Sajjad Ahmad, Kent J. Crippen, Sergiu M. Dascalu, Frederick C Harris, Jr.

2. Acknowledgements This work was partially supported by the National Science Foundation This work was partially supported by the National Science Foundation under grant EPS-0814372 under grant EPS-0814372 CATA 2012 2Losing the Lake

3. A Little Context In 2007 the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) applied for (and was awarded) an NSF EPSCoR research and infrastructure improvement grant In 2007 the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) applied for (and was awarded) an NSF EPSCoR research and infrastructure improvement grant $15,000,000 from NSF $15,000,000 from NSF $7,500,000 match from the state $7,500,000 match from the state 5 years. 5 years. The goal is to stimulate research, education, and outreach on the effects of regional climate change The goal is to stimulate research, education, and outreach on the effects of regional climate change CATA 2012 3Losing the Lake

4. A Little Context (cont) There are 6 major components of this grant There are 6 major components of this grant Climate Modeling Climate Modeling Ecological Change Ecological Change Water Water Policy, Decision Making, and Outreach Policy, Decision Making, and Outreach Cyberinfrastructure Cyberinfrastructure Education Education CATA 2012 4Losing the Lake

5. Sensor Networks Two transects Two transects Across mountain ranges Across mountain ranges Collecting climate data Collecting climate data CATA 2012 5Losing the Lake

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9. Seed Grants In order to integrate the program components, the grant had structured into it seed grants for interdisciplinary and inter-institutional science teams. In order to integrate the program components, the grant had structured into it seed grants for interdisciplinary and inter-institutional science teams. There were many Science Team proposals submitted, and today I want to talk with you about one of them There were many Science Team proposals submitted, and today I want to talk with you about one of them Losing the Lake Losing the Lake CATA 2012 9Losing the Lake

10. Losing the Lake Project Goals CATA 2012 10Losing the Lake Build an educationally informative simulation game Teach users about water conservation, climate change, and Lake Mead system Develop appreciation of climate change, conservation, and Lake Mead water level connection

11. Lake Mead water level 2009. “Bathtub ring” shows decline of 142 ft since 1983. Lake Mead water level 2009. “Bathtub ring” shows decline of 142 ft since 1983.

12. Losing the Lake – Game Design CATA 2012 12Losing the Lake Five Activities Activity 1 – A multiple choice assessment that builds background knowledge Activity 2 – User is challenged to conserve water in home Activity 3 – User is challenged to conserve water in the community Activity 4 – Illustrate impacts of climate change Activity 5 – Modeling climate change impact on Lake Mead

13. Demo CATA 2012 Losing the Lake 13

14. Project Next Steps CATA 2012 14Losing the Lake Focus groups with end users, middle-schoolers, teachers, and UGs Research on learning outcomes from game interaction with middle- schoolers and UGs Installation at informal learning environment

15. Conclusions We have discussed the design and implementation of an educational game – Losing the Lake We have discussed the design and implementation of an educational game – Losing the Lake A Web deployed game targeted towards educating young Nevadans who will be our future policy and decision makers. A Web deployed game targeted towards educating young Nevadans who will be our future policy and decision makers. CATA 2012 15Losing the Lake

16. Losing the Lake: Development and Deployment of an Educational Game Joseph M. Vesco, Katie Gilgen, Anne Paine, Marissa Owens, E. Michael Nussbaum, Gale M. Sinatra, Sajjad Ahmad, Kent J. Crippen, Sergiu M. Dascalu, Frederick C Harris, Jr.

17. CATA 2012 17Losing the Lake

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